Paving

Estimating the Costs of Installing Asphalt

Asphalt installation projects is one of the most cost-effective options for your driveway. The national average price to replace an old road for a new one ranges anywhere from around $2,500 to $6,000, depending on the length and timeline of installation. While that may seem expensive, the cost is actually much cheaper than concrete. (Yet, there are plenty of pros and cons to both. Explore our other blog, “The Great Debate: Should You Get an Asphalt or Concrete Driveway?”)

However, that price range is just an average that could fluctuate based on many factors. In this blog, we are going to break down everything that goes into the cost of a constructing a typical asphalt driveway. You should always try to estimate yourself before blinding trusting a contractor to bill you for the project. Don’t let yourself get taken advantage of by any so-called “experts”. Knowing is half the battle!

First, you don’t have to hire any contractor. If you have the right tools and free time, you can pursue a DIY model. However, we have to caution that this venture is not for everyone. You need a specific set of tools, particularly a roller machine. Depending on a size and scope of the project, you will need to invest a significant amount of energy. Avoid overconfidence and play it safe! By operating complex machinery and dangerous chemicals, you can harm yourself and damage your property.

5 Determining Factors of DIY Asphalt Jobs You Need to Know

1 – Cost-Benefits Analyze

Before you decide to install or replace a driveway, ask yourself following question: Is it more cost-effective to do it yourself? The the scope and type of project you’re undertaking will largely determine whether it’s really worth it. Take some time and list out all the possible expenses over time you’d incur from a DIY approach. You might need to purchase, rent, or borrow materials and tools for the job. Then think about how long it might take by yourself. If the project runs into the winter months, the snow might ruin the installation process.

2 – Special License

Depending on the location, some projects may also require permits for individuals to lay asphalt and a license to operate rollers. It’s a good idea to ask your local municipality regarding any special needs before you make a final decision. The costs of training and taking specific tests to obtain a license and certification is another factor that you should consider in any DIY model.

3 – Special Equipment

Paving an asphalt driveway or a parking lot is no simple task. You’ll need some experience with a range of different tools, some of which will be quite expensive. Then, of course, you’ll need some training in operating all of them safely. You’ll probably want to rent the large paver machines if it’s just a one-time project. If you have several projects lined up on many properties, you could consider buying one.

4 – TImeline for Completion

Typically, for contractor work you need to go through a lot of paperwork in signing contracts. If you don’t want to be tied down in red tape, you might be able to complete the project faster by yourself. Contractor work during business hours throughout workdays. However, as your own DIY manager, you can set your schedule to work whenever you want! Your time is valuable, and you should schedule out every hour of work to make the best use of it.

5 – Commercial vs. Residential Projects

Next, you need to consider the type of project you’re looking to complete, whether commercial or residential. Installing an asphalt project in either your business lot or home driveway each have issues that may affect costs. For example, if you are installing new pavement for the parking lot around your business, you’ll likely have to fewer customers coming in because of less space to park. You might require different permits depending on the purpose of the project. And, if you opt for a DIY model, you would be directly overseeing and participating in the work, not managing your company office.

Calculating the Cost of Asphalt Construction in Frederick MD

Measure Twice Pave Once!

If you want to determine the amount of asphalt you will need for your project, you will need to scope out and measure the area. This is the fun part involving math! You’ll need to apply some basic formulas for area depending on the shape of the project. Some might be straightforward rectangles or half circles, other more complex.

After you measured a rough estimate of the square feet of surface area, you’ll need to research how much tonnage of asphalt will cover the project. Here’s a simple guide for one ton of asphalt:

½” deep = 1023 Sq ft

1” deep = 517 Sq ft

2” deep = 258 Sq ft

4” deep = 129 Sq ft

Now you can calculate a total estimate of cost by using the price of asphalt per square foot. And, to do that, of course, we need to know the average market price of a ton asphalt.

What’s a Ton Worth?

The exact price of asphalt fluctuates with the market. The Maryland Asphalt Association records a history of data on rates by tonnage in their Asphalt Index. Currently, they estimate the costs at around $398.33 per ton.

You’ll probably want an easy breakdown of that number for reference. Several websites around the web, such as ProMatcher, provide you free estimates for residential driveway installations by the square foot. According to them, the price comes down to around $10.00 per square foot for resurfacing. To tear out and install new asphalt costs about $7.01 per square foot. Then, sealing cost about $0.40 per square foot.

Regardless of the dimensions, if you want to achieve a fully functional and aesthetically pleasing asphalt driveway or a parking lot, leave it to professionals at Limitless Concrete & Paving. The proper installation of asphalt requires experience, specialized equipment, and general expertise. Driveway or a parking lot receives a lot of traffic, requiring them to be durable and last decades.

To get a free, no-obligation paving quote, call us at (301) 327-2226 today!

How to Design a Beautiful Driveway for Your Home

During the design and construction phase, careful consideration should be given to the landscaping that surrounds a home.

Too often, people focus solely on the building itself, neglecting to take into account the surrounding yard and garden. This includes the driveway.

From the street, a driveway takes up a lot of visual space on your property. It is one of the first things that people see when they pull up to your home. Adding a drive to your home, so you have off street parking also will lower insurance costs according to Money Expert. That is why it is so important to make sure that your driveway is beautifully designed and that it complements the exterior of your home.

The best time to come up with a design for your driveway is when you are actually planning the construction of your home. That way, you can be sure to budget enough money to create the ideal driveway for your property. Here are some factors that you should consider:

*How big does the driveway need to be? Your driveway should be appropriately scaled for both the size of your house and the number of cars that it needs to accommodate. If you regularly have company over, be sure to create additional space for parking.

* Think about the size of the driveway in comparison to the size of your front yard. Typically, it is good to have a balance between the two. However, you can prioritize your yard or your driveway in your overall landscape design, depending on your personal preferences.

* What shape do you want the driveway to be? Do you want to go with a traditional rectangular driveway or would you prefer something more elegant like a curved driveway?

* Does the driveway complement the exterior of your home? Ideally, the style of the driveway will be a good fit with the architectural style of your house so that your home has a cohesive look. Does your home have a fountain like this from Luxe Water Walls, or a piece of art. Then you need to ensure it works with the home.

* How easy is the driveway to care for? Make sure that you take upkeep and maintenance into account when deciding what types of materials to use in the construction of your driveway. It should be easy to clean and durable enough to handle the elements.

* How will you help your driveway blend with your yard? For instance, many people find it beneficial to put a border on the edge of their driveway using brick pavers to help it blend more smoothly with the surrounding yard. Another option is to put flower beds on either side of the driveway.

* What type of material do you want to use? Driveway materials can range from simple materials like gravel all the way up to intricately stamped concrete, depending on your preferences and the overall look and feel that you are going for.

* How wide does your driveway need to be? Avoid making your driveway so narrow that your car doors hit surrounding objects when you try to open them. You should also leave plenty of space for pulling into and out of your driveway.

* What are your long-term needs? Don’t forget to plan ahead when creating your driveway design. For instance, if you have children who will be driving in a few years, you may need to create space for additional vehicles.

Reach Out To Us Today For Assistance With Your Driveway

It is important to ask yourself all of the questions listed in the previous section when you are coming up with a design for your driveway. It can be beneficial to have professional help and guidance throughout the process. Consider reaching out to us today to talk to our experts about creating a beautiful driveway for your home.

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How To Take Care of Your Asphalt Driveway

A well-maintained asphalt driveway can improve your home’s curb appeal and increase its resale value. These classic black driveways are not only functional but are also attractive to look at — especially when they are cared for correctly. Ongoing maintenance is essential if you want to keep your driveway in great shape. Without proper care, the asphalt can begin to crack or crumble in as little as fifteen years. Taking the time to maintain your driveway can help extend its usable life, eliminating the expense of having to have it repaved. Use the tips and suggestions below to keep your driveway looking its best for many years to come:

Seal Coat Your Driveway For Extra Protection

Seal coating asphalt can help it last a lot longer. This special protective coating minimizes the effects of the elements on the surface of the asphalt, helping to extend its life. The driveway should be seal coated immediately after being paved. As a part of ongoing maintenance, a new layer of seal coat should be applied periodically to help provide protection. Most experts recommend recoating the surface every three to five years, depending on how the asphalt ages. The process of seal coating helps minimize the effect of changing temperatures and severe weather by reinforcing the driveway and keeping the asphalt from breaking apart.

Make Repairs Frequently

Any time you notice a crack or indentation in your driveway, you should fix it right away. Dealing with problems early on helps keep the cost of repairs down. Driveways that are located in climates that have cold winters are particularly prone to damage. When water finds its way into the cracks and freezes, it expands, forcing the cracks further apart. By sealing cracks immediately, you can prevent water from getting in, minimizing the amount of damage that occurs.

Having a drive and your car at home is very beneficial as according to Money Expert it will reduce your premiums when compared to having it in a car park or on the street.

Regularly Clean The Asphalt

Certain types of chemicals or contaminants can cause the surface of the asphalt to deteriorate more quickly. That is why it is important to keep the surface as clean as possible. If you notice any stains on the asphalt, clean them up right away. You should also remove any dirt that finds its way onto the surface to prevent weeds from taking root.

Don’t Allow Water To Puddle On The Surface

Try to keep your driveway as dry as possible. Puddles of standing water can eventually lead to potholes or other problems with the surface of your driveway. Try to dry out your driveway as quickly as possible after a storm and avoid allowing puddles of water to remain on its surface.

Set Up Ongoing Maintenance With A Contractor

If you don’t have time to maintain your driveway yourself, you can always hire a contractor who specializes in paving to do it for you. Setting up an ongoing maintenance plan is fast, easy, and affordable. Best of all, it can help prolong the life of your driveway.

It is well worth investing a little bit of money into driveway maintenance. The money that you spend now can help keep you from having to deal with expensive repairs later. Staying on top of regular maintenance can go a long way toward protecting your investment.

Questions?

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Do It Yourself: How To Pour Concrete

Long-lasting, versatile, and economical, done right a new patio can be a beautiful rendition to your property. No matter the design, or the project placement, a concrete patio can provide a fun area to enjoy the outdoors and add a prominent feature to your landscape.

Before we tackle how to pour concrete, we must take the initiative to understand the fundamentals behind our material.

Grasping the core basis of our materials is what will pave the roadway for a successful project.

In its initial state, concrete is a blend of paste, aggregates, and rocks. Through hydration, this adhesive material will harden and gain the capacity to develop the proper framework for our concrete project.

Being able to manipulate a chemical reaction is a remarkable trait. When newly mixed, it is plastic and malleable, vigorous and durable when hardened. Economical. Versatile. Durable. Building materials available. Regardless of your skill level, developing a sidewalk, patio, or floor with concrete blends can be achieved successfully.

Step 1: Layout

In most circumstances, you will have to construct a framework either by digging or building molds. Shovel as needed and assemble a frame with 2x4s to accommodate your layout. Now, compose the slope with makeshift posts. Then, use nails to connect stakes to the structures that you have built. If you prefer, you can also make use of clamps to secure the arrangements in place. Use a level to establish that you have the proper grade for your slope. Once you have confirmed the slope, substitute permanent stakes for securing the form in place.

Concrete is poured best when temperatures are between 40 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Scorching heat and direct sunlight can cause your concrete to cure too quickly. Extreme climates will cause it to fracture, while cold air will prevent the concrete from setting. Plan the pour when the weather favors moderate temperatures to avoid future damage.

Step 2: Excavation

To keep water from flooding or merging on the patio surface, give your patio a slight, rain-shedding slope. The site needs to be prepared before the concrete can be placed: the area needs to be properly cleared and cleaned.

A sub-base of a minimum 4 inches of granular fill or road base is justified except the soil is very dense and stable. The sub-base fill is placed and compacted over the complete area where concrete will be installed, with a focus to the edges.

Step 3: Form Work

Whereas it takes strength to build the site excavation, it takes finesse to assemble the form— that is, the wood frame that requires the mount to contain the pour, stabilize its height, and define its shape.

Using the mason’s strings as a reference, begin by positioning 2×4 boards onto the gravel along the perimeter of the landscape area. Set the beams so that their inside edges hit directly below the strings since the internal dimensions of the frame must equal the total size of the project area.

Then, drive in a foot-long stake to separate from your stock of 2×4’s. Drill three-inch deck pins through one into the other to fasten the stakes to the boards. After leveling the form boards, screw them together to finish. To prevent the concrete from bonding with the wood, coat the structure with either vegetable oil or a commercial release agent.

Step 4: Pouring & Finishing

Finally, proceed to mix and pour the concrete in uniformly distributed mounds. From there, spread the concrete over the project area with a rake, then smooth out the pavement with a screed board. Use the screed in a sawing motion to remove any excess concrete in front of the board. Once the concrete has lost its finish, go over it with a wood float, using curving motions to smooth the surface. After that, spread the concrete with a stiff-bristled broom to make the surface nonslip. Next, allow for a seasonal expansion and contraction by applying a groover and straightedge to put in control joints. The exterior is floated to further compact the concrete, even out any sinks or high areas, and produce a glossy finish to the surface.

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When is it time for new concrete?

What does your sidewalk look like at the moment? Are there any cracks? It’s always a good idea to check sidewalks and think about what it is that you see, including dangerous hazards. Maybe you only see a chalk drawing left by some neighbor’s children or your own. There is also a chance you could see the outline of a hopscotch game numbered with a delicate touch. You may even have one of those sidewalks where someone left their initials or handprints in while the cement was still wet.

Cement itself has earned a distinct reputation over time. It is associated with toughness, durability, and a sort of permanence wherever it sits. For something to be set in concrete is to have it be confident that it will not be moving from that spot for the foreseeable future of all those around it. It’s what makes it such a commonly used part of our daily lives and such a mainstay presence in our neighborhoods and home. We don’t just have it in our sidewalks, but in our patios, our outdoor patios, and even in the very foundations of many of our homes.

While cement is very sturdy, it is not completely indestructible. The forces of nature and humankind both have the ability to wear and deteriorate your concrete structures.

So that lends itself to the all-important question: what do you do when you need new concrete? Well, as with so many other home improvement projects you can try your hand at it. However, the harsh truth is that not everyone out there has the natural aptitude and patience for learning all of the finer points of a complicated and delicate process which by its very nature is going to be set for a long time whether you do it right or wrong. Even if you have the time and energy to redo the concrete, once set, you’re now investing more time and money in the project than you planned to save in the first place.

If you are concerned about running into that issue, or if you simply are the kind of person who wants a trusted professional to do it right and to do it right the first time then you have to have the right kind of individuals. You need professionalism; you need customer service and experience so that you can walk away from your dealings with them knowing that you dealt with a reputable and reliable business. The kind of business that seamlessly integrates exceptional customer care and service with excellent craft results for all desired jobs.

At the end of the day, you need someone who says “whatever you need, we’ll get it done right!”

Parking Lot Maintenance Tips & Tricks

Having a parking lot that is a point of pride for your business shows your customers that you go the extra mile.

Even if some of them don’t notice, you can be sure that they would see if it were run down and full of potholes and cracks.

If you want to keep your parking lot a nice, clean, and safe place for your patrons and employees, it is critical that you take a few measures to maintain its structure and aesthetics. We’ve compiled a list of a few tips you can use to make your parking lot the envy of the entire block.

Sweep Well, Sweep Often

Keeping your pavement free of rocks, dirt, and debris doesn’t just make your parking lot a more attractive and safer place. It also extends the life of your pavement by facilitating proper drainage, which prevents pooling and standing water. Water is pavements worst enemy, seeping down into the base and creating cracks and potholes over time.

Inspect Your Pavement Often

Identifying cracks, potholes, and other damage or hazards are essential to keeping repair costs low. The quicker you can identify that your pavement needs some professional repair work, the cheaper it will be. Over time, a small amount of damage can lead to much larger problems, and the ability to take care of them now is the best way to ensure you don’t need an early replacement.

If You Do Have Cracks, Don’t Let Anything Grow in Them!

You’ve probably encountered a poorly maintained parking lot that had weeds growing through cracks in the pavement. Don’t let this happen to your lot! Even if you are not going to seal the crack right now, having weeds grow through it will cause long-term, irreparable damage. The plant’s roots will push through the pavement causing structural damage as well as disrupting the surface.

Eliminate Oil

Oil doesn’t just leave unsightly stains on your pavement; it creates many of the same problems that standing water does. It will weaken the surface of your pavement, and seep down into the base layers creating an environment where cracks thrive. As soon as you notice oil stains, do your best to eliminate them before they can severely damage your asphalt.

Invest in Striping

Having your parking lot freshly painted works wonders for the aesthetic value of your lot. You can also use the opportunity to redesign your parking lot and redirect traffic away from more vulnerable areas of your asphalt. You may even find a way to accommodate more vehicles.

Regular Sealcoating

We recommend getting a fresh seal coat every two years. Sealcoating is a crucial part of maintenance which helps prevent many of the common factors that harm pavement. By slowing the natural wear and tear of the surface, it prevents water, oil, and dirt from getting into the sub-layers of your pavement and causing structural damage. A fresh seal coat also gives your lot that like-new look that everybody enjoys.

Call Limitless Paving and Concrete

We can accommodate any parking lot maintenance and repair needs you may have. We want you to have a parking lot that reflects the pride and hard work you put into your business every day.